Chaotic Court

Konoha

Hokage Office

"You mean Prime Minister Nishio Masao invited me to the Capital City to serve Daimyo and oversee state affairs?"

Naraku looked at Arima Kenji Nishio Masao, the prime minister of the Capital City of Land of Fire, with some surprise. The Daimyo had only been missing for half a month. Although he was probably dead, it didn't seem like it was time to elect Daimyo.

Nishio Masao was a small family that Naraku had cultivated within the Land of Fire's court during his many years as Hokage. He was relatively shrewd and, within the so-called "two pillars" relationship between the Daimyo and the Hokage, he was biased towards the Hokage.

"Hey! The court is in chaos right now. Lord Masao has defied all opposition and appointed himself prime minister. The bloodline of the Daimyo has become extinct. However, a country cannot be without a ruler for a day."

Lord Masao hopes that Lord Hokage will enter the Capital City, become the Daimyo, and protect the Land of Fire!

The envoy Arima Kenji, was a supporter of Nishio Masao, who had appointed himself prime minister, and also held an important position in the imperial court.

"No, I am but a mere warrior. You should all seek out Daimyo the daimyo's royal family to serve as Daimyo!"

Naraku rejected the suggestion outright. Not to mention that the Daimyo had only recently disappeared, the people of the Land of Fire might still believe there was a possibility of a survivor.

The Capital City proposed that Naraku become the Daimyo. It's impossible for Naraku to just accept the invitation and actually go to take up the post. That would make his intentions too obvious. He would at least have to go through the motions of inviting and declining three times.

In his previous life, Naraku had some understanding of the process of abdication and succession to the throne. He was offered the throne three times and declined three times, Naraku could not refuse his earnest request and was finally pushed onto the throne, which was in line with the normal situation.

Otherwise, it might cause some unnecessary trouble or suspicion among the subjects.

"This... Lord Hokage, a country without a ruler will inevitably descend into chaos. Please, for the sake of the people of the Land of Fire, take over the Capital City!"

" In the Land of Fire, besides you, there is no one else qualified to take on this role!"

Arima Kenji pleaded again, not giving up despite Naraku's refusal.

"No, absolutely not! Mr. Kenji, please go back! I will talk to Nishio Masao."

Naraku refused outright, leaving no room for negotiation.

In the office, Mitokado Homura, standing to the side, was somewhat surprised by Naraku's resolute attitude. The position of Daimyo was something that no Hokage had ever considered.

Now that this position has fallen to Naraku is able to stick to his original intention and resolutely disagree, which has greatly dispelled Mitokado Homura's suspicions about Naraku.

"Mr. Kenji, the Fourth Hokage is right. It is best to find Daimyo to succeed to the throne. Konoha has never been involved in matters of Daimyo succession."

After noticing Naraku's apparent attitude, Mitokado Homura spoke up as if to help Naraku out of a difficult situation.

"This..."

Arima Kenji hadn't expected to be turned away this time. Before his mission, he thought it would just be a formality and that an invitation would be easily accepted, since there was no one more suitable than the Hokage in the Land of Fire at present.

Naraku that Arima Kenji was frozen in place, seemingly wanting to speak but hesitant, Naraku spoke softly and kindly:

"I understand the good intentions of the Prime Minister and everyone else, but now is absolutely not the right time to elect a new ruler."

"Mr. Kenji, please go back first. I will do my best to find the Daimyo's whereabouts."

Arima Kenji noticed that Naraku's attitude was amiable. Although his words implied refusal, he didn't seem to be very resistant to discussing the issue of succeeding the Daimyo. Arima Kenji was somewhat puzzled by Naraku's attitude.

"Understood, I'll take my leave now."

Arima Kenji answered softly, somewhat hesitantly, bowed slightly, and then turned and left.

He didn't know what the Hokage was thinking, but he knew he should take his leave first. The Hokage and Mitokado Homura beside him had both made it clear that staying here was not a good idea.

Mitokado Homura watched Arima Kenji leave, sighed, and whispered:

"The Daimyo has been missing for half a month, and Daimyo family and relatives have been almost completely wiped out by missing-nin. This is a situation that has never happened in the Land of Fire in a thousand years."

As Mr. Arima Kenji said, "Without a ruler, a country will inevitably descend into chaos. If Daimyo cannot be found, then perhaps..."

Mitokado Homura paused here, glanced at the Fourth Hokage Uchiha Nara, and continued:

"Perhaps you should be appointed as the Daimyo. Currently, only the Hokage is qualified to be the Daimyo of the Land of Fire."

Whether you like it or not, this is an inescapable responsibility...

Seeing that the Fourth Hokage, Uchiha Nara, was very firm in his refusal, Mitokado Homura assumed that Naraku truly had no interest in the position of ruler of the Land of Fire. Towards the end, his tone began to sound conciliatory.

"This is absolutely unacceptable. We must find His Daimyo, dead or alive, no matter what..."

Naraku remained resolute, appearing righteous and indignant.

Seeing Mitokado Homura said softly, somewhat wearily:

"Hopefully I can find his Daimyo..."

"We must find the Daimyo."

Naraku's face was solemn.

Land of Fire

Capital City

In the residence of Nishio Masao frowned as he listened to the report from Arima Kenji.

"Are you saying that the Fourth Hokage Uchiha Nara, strongly disagrees?"

Nishio Masao asked again, somewhat disbelieving.

"Yes! The Fourth Hokage's words were resolute, not feigned... but his attitude was rather amiable, and I couldn't fathom Fourth Hokage thoughts."

Arima Kenji honestly answered the Capital City Minister's question.

"His words were firm, but his attitude was kind... what does this mean?"

Upon hearing Arima Kenji's words, Nishio Masao was also confused.

Nishio Masao was a fallen nobleman who only managed to gain a foothold in the Land of Land of Fire's court thanks to the protection and support of Konoha.

In recent years, amidst the rampant attacks by missing-nin in the Land of Fire, his family and businesses have never suffered the kind of disappearance attacks that other nobles have experienced.

The attacks they encountered were mostly petty bandits and thieves, which were easily defeated by the Guardian Ninja.

Nishio Masao's political and business rivals were all eliminated by the ninjas he commissioned. Nishio Masao understood that this was all thanks to the ninjas of Konoha Ninja.

After all, Konoha is very cautious about accepting assassination missions within the country, and in fact, it basically doesn't take on such missions at all, while he can issue them at will and command ninjas to eliminate opponents.

"Lord Masao, do you think it might be that my status is too lowly, and I am not qualified?"

If you were to personally invite them, or if you were to go with a group of court officials, the outcome might be different!

On his way back to the Capital City, Arima Kenji pondered the reasons why the Hokage disagreed, guessing that it might be related to this.

"Hmm, you're right. Private dealings are highly inappropriate. Since the Lord Hokage is being invited to assume the throne, all the court officials should be present..."

Arima Kenji's words reminded Nishio Masao.